"Mattel to Launch Company’s First Action Figures for Girls" :: Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Harley Quinn and MORE!

Press Release

WARNER BROS. AND DC ENTERTAINMENT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MATTEL LAUNCH DC SUPER HERO GIRLS, A NEW SUPER HERO UNIVERSE DESIGNED JUST FOR GIRLS, SLATED FOR FALL 2015

Mattel to Launch Company’s First Action Figures for Girls

Unprecedented Initiative to Include Digital Content, TV Specials, Made-For-Videos, Publishing, Toys, Apparel and Other Products

Random House Children’s Books to be Master Publishing Partner
The LEGO Group to be Exclusive Construction Partner

Burbank, Calif. – April 22, 2015 – Beginning in Fall 2015, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Mattel join forces to launch DC Super Hero Girls, an exciting new universe of Super Heroic storytelling that helps build character and confidence, and empowers girls to discover their true potential.  Featuring DC Comics’ most powerful and diverse line-up of female characters as relatable teens, DC Super Hero Girls will play out across multiple entertainment content platforms and product categories to create an immersive world.

Developed for girls aged 6-12, DC Super Hero Girls centers on the female Super Heroes and Super-Villains of the DC Comics universe during their formative years—prior to discovering their full super power potential. Featuring a completely new artistic style and aesthetic, DC Comics’ icons such as Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Harley Quinn, Bumble Bee, Poison Ivy, Katana and many more make their unprecedented teenaged introduction. Each character has her own storyline that explores what teen life is like as a Super Hero, including discovering her unique abilities, nurturing her remarkable powers and mastering the fundamentals of being a hero.

“DC Entertainment is home to the most iconic and well-known Super Heroes including Wonder Woman, Supergirl and Batgirl,” said Diane Nelson, President of DC Entertainment. “DC Super Hero Girls represents the embodiment of our long-term strategy to harness the power of our diverse female characters.  I am so pleased that we are able to offer relatable and strong role models in a unique way, just for girls.”

The initial launch of DC Super Hero Girls in Fall 2015 will include an immersive digital experience, original digital content and digital publishing—providing opportunities for girls to interact with characters, learn about the storylines, and engage in customizable play.  TV specials, made-for-videos, toys, apparel, books and other product categories will begin to rollout in 2016.

“Developing a Super Hero franchise exclusively for girls that includes all of the key components of a comprehensive entertainment experience—from content to consumer products—is something we are excited to be doing in conjunction with our great partners,” said Brad Globe, President of Warner Bros. Consumer Products.   “It’s really an honor to be part of this cultural moment and to be delivering a concept so rooted in a relatable and empowered theme that the characters of DC Comics are uniquely able to present.”

As master toy licensee, Mattel is collaborating with DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Bros. Consumer Products on DC Super Hero Girls’narrative creation, interactive digital activations and ultimately a toy line launching in 2016.  Mattel category-leading firsts include a line of characters for the action figure category, an area of the industry that has been primarily developed with boys in mind, and fashion dolls featuring strong, athletic bodies that stand on their own in heroic poses.

“Partnering with the best and being the best partner is of paramount importance,” said Richard Dickson, President, Chief Operating Officer, Mattel.  “Together with Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment, the DC Super Hero Girls franchise will further expand our already powerful girls portfolio. We know Super Hero is a culturally relevant theme and the DC Super Hero Girls franchise will engage and inspire girls, providing cues to explore heroic acts through play and into real life.”

The Random House Books for Young Readers imprint of Random House Children’s Books has been appointed the master publishing partner for the franchise and will be creating a portfolio of books that will bring the DC Super Hero Girls world to life, beginning in Spring 2016.  Random House’s publishing program will be complemented by a series of original graphic novels from DC Entertainment.

The LEGO Group will also be key to building the DC Super Hero Girls franchise, leveraging their experience and success engaging girls in creative construction play to bolster this universe through an array of LEGO® building sets designed to inspire girls' imaginations.

Additionally, consumer products partners around the world will be engaged in creating a merchandise line dedicated to DC Super Hero Girls across all key categories.

File this one under "I can't wait!" or perhaps "It's about time!" - and while it would be far preferable to be 'all inclusive' rather than 'separate but equal' this news shows an incredible step forward in toy corporation thinking, and it is very heartening in a time when Disney/Marvel is intentionally excluding characters like Black Widow and Gamora from their marketing endeavors.

Not to mention an all new take on Harley Quinn!!!

You can bet with two young daughters in my house, as well as my own personal fandom for DC heroines and villainesses, there will be a LOT of this stuff making it's way into our collections. So stay tuned for more info as we move ever too slowly towards this beautiful future!

Batman Under Where?

Like every other Geek in Geekdom worth his Geekredentials, I too got my hands on Batman: Under the Red Hood this week. Under the Red Hood is the latest in a long and almost always awesome line-up of DC Universe Animated Original Movies.

So how was it? Amazing. One of the best DC Universe animated flicks yet.

But be warned, it isn't for the feint of heart. Under the Red Hood is pretty damn brutal at times. Many times. But that certainly shouldn't surprise anyone even vaguely familiar with the comic book source material it's based on.

This ain't no Brave and the Bold!

I won't get all spoilery; I'll keep my review here general and brief. The voice talent is great, John DiMaggio (currently best known for his work as Aquaman on Batman: The Brave and the Bold) does an excellent Joker. Jensen Ackles does very well as Red Hood, Bruce Greenwood does a Batman that at times even sounds a bit like Kevin Conroy, and fan favorite Neil Patrick Harris steals the show with some great lines as Nightwing.

And if anyone from DC/WB is listening, based on his appearance here, I think a Neil Patrick Harris as Nightwing animated feature length film would be pretty sweet! Just saying.

The animation and action are tops (although there were a few too many 20+ foot vertical backwards jumps and other push physics a little too far, even for a cartoon leaps for my liking,) and the story has some surprising depth and a few great cameos and flashback sequences.

The Jonah Hex Showcase Short before the feature is good too. Not great, but fun. I think the Spectre Showcase Short that appeared before Crisis on Two Earths sort of set the bar a little too high for JH to reach, but it's a nice add and probably seventeen hundred times better than the recent Jonah Hex movie.

I picked Under The Red Hood up at Best Buy, and was able to get the last exclusive copy, which comes with a Red Hood figurine (similar to Crisis' exclusive Owlman figurine.)

A fun little add-on; I wouldn't have worried about it if I didn't get it, but it cost the same as the 2 disc special edition DVD with or without it, so I'm all over the free toy angle!


The second disc includes a featurette called Robin: The Story of Dick Grayson. I'm pretty sure you can guess what that's about; and two episodes of Batman the animated series. I haven't popped that DVD in yet so I don't know which episodes.

Also included is a "First Look" at the next DC/WB animated offering: Superman/Batman Apocalypse. That one should be fun!

Buy stuff by me at Zazzle!

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths

I took my lunch break today and ran down to Best Buy to get the Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths DVD on the day of it's release. I have been loving all the DC/WB direct to DVD animated movies, and although some have been stronger than others the fan-boy in me has never been disappointed. While I don't always run right out to buy them on day one, the exclusive mini Owlman offered with the Best Buy release, in addition to all I had heard and seen regarding this newest feature (Spectre short, people!) had me waiting in breathless anticipation for it's release today.

Let me start at the beginning. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is the first DC/WB animated feature to include a short "Showcase" cartoon. I imagine this is going to be a common occurrence now, and damned if they didn't blow the concept completely out of the water with their Spectre short.

Holleee Hanna!

I had tears in my eyes this thing was so good! Set in Los Angeles in the seventies, Jim Corrigan is a detective on the case of a murdered Hollywood mogul. The storytelling style is very old-school horror flick with an era relevant cop movie flavor, with a lot of homages to the genres mixed in. If you've ever read a good Spectre story, THIS is a damn good Spectre story!

After such a power packed opening act, I wasn't sure the main feature could live up to the adrenaline charge. My fears were put to rest about two seconds into the title sequence, and the fun didn't end until the credits rolled.

The story for Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths was originally envisioned as a bridge between the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited series, and fans will immediately feel the vibe. But those who did not follow the two series won't be lost or left behind, it hits all the right notes and doesn't leave anyone feeling like they "missed an issue."

The story is deep, the characterizations are spot-on, and the fight sequences are choreographed to near perfection. There's real gravitas to the threat hovering over our heroes, and real victory in their achievements. Cameos abound for the geeks, but again (and I can't emphasize enough the value of this component) the casual viewer will enjoy it without feeling like they aren't "in on the joke." For instance, my daughter enjoyed the film immensely without having to know that Superwoman's minions are Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr. and Uncle Marvel (in evil form, of course.) But I knew it. And I squeed a little on the inside.

So here's my recommendation. Buy it. Rent it. Borrow it. Steal it. Do whatever you gotta do to SEE IT!

I personally set out for the Best Buy release because of the Owlman figurine, which I recommend if you're into that sort of thing. It's smaller than DC Infinite Heroes figures, so it doesn't really fit into any current DC toyline, and it isn't really an action figure anyways as only the arms and head have articulation (and the arms are pretty useless with that massive cape.) But it's a nice add-in and the 2 disc DVD set with him included is only $19.99 right now at Best Buy, so it's worth it if you can get it.

The second disc includes a featurette with the DC editorial/creative team that came up with the recent Crisis comics storylines and two episodes of the Justice League animated series (appropriately enough: A Better World parts 1 and 2.)

Also included is a "First Look" at the next DC/WB animated offering: Batman Under the Red Hood. Man oh man, I am SO looking forward to that one!